Day 31

It's been what we call a free form day. Do what you want when you want. So a little cleaning, a little laundry, a little internet and a little television.

I made oatmeal for breakfast and now for dinner a nice comforting meatloaf dinner.

Day 30

When I got up I paid all the bills, which is always a good feeling. We took the dogs to the Yuppy Puppy and then took Michael to get his haircut at Essence. I made an appointment to get my hair done in March.

After we picked up the dogs when they were done we came home and that was it for the day. We watched some shows we recorded on the DVR like one of my favorites Shark Tank.

Just a nice relaxing day with out the mad rush of running around like we normally do.

Day 29

Another busy day at work. I met Michael for lunch.We got to vent about things, which makes going forward during the day better.

I stopped at Papa Murphy's and picked up a pizza to bake for dinner.

All in all not too much of an exciting day, just a normal one.

Day 28

You know how some days are good days and some are bad. Yesterday was on the bad side. Just didn't feel well all day. But we were so busy all day it didn't give me much chance to notice.

I baked a cake for Susan's birthday. It was all gone by the end of the day so it must have been okay.

Last night we tried to watch the movie District Nine. We turned it off 1/4 the way through. Just could not get into it.

Here's hoping that Friday will be a much better day!

Day 27

The review went well. Today was so busy. Made a bunch of telephone calls to clear up a second request for a sleep study made by my primary doctor. Seems there was a mistake. Really? You think? Jackie, the cardiologist's nurse, called later in the morning and said I am where I am supposed to be range wise. If I remain in the range on Monday they will schedule my procedure next week.

I watched the State of the Union Address. Very lofty and hard to reach goals. Ending the war in Iraq and ending the awful "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy were highlights for me. I disagreed about building new nuclear power plants. I think that would be a big mistake.

I am totally exhausted tonight. So it is an early bedtime for me.

Have a nice Thursday.

Day 26

It's my annual review at work today. Please let it go well. I know there is no raise on the line, because none of us are getting raises but I hope they think I did well this year.

Day 25

It snowed this morning. Then the flakes turned really big. Then it all turned to rain.

It was a normal busy day. Maureen came back for 4 hours. I worked through my lunch and left for the doctor's at 4:00.

Heartbeat down to 102 (still high, but lower than last week) Coumadin blood level was 2.7 (too high) I can't win. LOL

Leftover spaghetti tonight. It definitely is better the next day.

Tomorrow is my annual review. Wish me luck.

Day 24

The only thng on my Sunday agenda is pick up the house a little, do some laundry and make a spaghetti dinner tonight. I ran out of energy to make it yesterday after the Costco run.

Day 23

We have decided from now on to make a decision to buy American made products whenever possible. We know there are going to be instances when that is just not possible. I want to actually look at labels and see where things are manufactured and if their is a choice of a locally made item, then I want to choose that item over a foreign made product. I want to take the time and learn who owns the companies where I shop. I have chosen to make an effort to eat in locally owned restaurants and not national chains that takes money out of community.

On Fridays the Ed Schultz radio show has Recession Busters where they spotlight small businesses owned and operated by small entrepreneurs.

This morning Michael is taking me to Shari's for breakfast. It's National Pie Day, so we may even pick up a pie for tonight's dessert. They have a promotion for a free pie bag, so, whenever you use the bag they will donate 25 cents to the Girls and Boys Club of America. We will also request an Honored Citizens Card for Michael. This chain is based out of Beaverton, OR and have restaurants in an around the northwest.

And then onto Costco. Costco is headquartered in Issaquah, WA. We hate going there because we actually have nicknamed it "The $200 Store". We always spend way too much there without even trying. Today we will try and keep it down to what really need. Like toliet paper, red cups and hamburger meat. Michael is working overtime with some of his crew tonight starting at midnight so he wants to get some pastries for them too.

Day 22

Yesterday I wanted to make an appointment to see a doctor about my night coughing. I am really tired of not sleeping. Why do clinics do everything in their power to keep you from seeing a doctor. Why do the appointment makers think they need to know everything? Because my doctor's nurse was off they pawned me off on a triage nurse over the phone. It is so hard over the phone when explaining what is wrong with you without sounding like a whining loser. So finally I get an appointment to see a physician's assistant. She was okay, better than most almost doctor I've seen in the past. She changed alot of the dosages of my medications and did an EKG. Heartbeat is still way to fast. I finally did the blood draw. But still need to get a chest xray done.

Back to work where there is just more and more of it. I pawned another paperwork pile off on the receptionist to staple and file.

Michael was late getting home, so I watched more recorded television. My guilty pleasure Ugly Betty. I love that show. I don't remember what else I watched.

Now it is Friday. My boss took the day off to go skiing, if there is any snow left.I cannot wait for the weekend and enjoy some peace and relaxation.

Day 21

I am so swamped at work. With Maureen gone my workload has doubled. Sure makes the days zip by.

Michael had to go to the shop and fix a computer because one of the employees got a virus on it. I watched quite a bit of tv before he got home. I watched Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theory - this one being about 2012. I also watched the newest episode of Greys Anatomy - one of my favorites. Went into the DVR menu and deleted all the shows I no longer want to record. It was amazing to see what was there. I watched American Idol - Tryouts in Orlando. No one truly special stood out for me. I'm with my friend Dwayne on this one. They kicked Frenchie out for posing nude on the internet, which is not against the law, and then gave the golden ticket to a convicted bank robber. I thought Ellen was going to be the new judge - where is she? Why all the guest judges?

Day 20

We have been watching the PBS series Liberty, An American Revolution. It took couragous men from different beliefs and walks of life and brought them to together to form a country free of foreign entanglements from 13 small colonies. These men had different political beliefs but they were able to come together and compromise and work to build a country for the betterment of the people.
Where are the special brave men today that we need to lead this country and improve the life of our people. All I see is greed, poisoned partisan politics and corruptness.

I see the goodness in people who are donating money to the people of Haiti. But are some of these same people the ones with the attitude that because I have healthcare, why should I care if anyone else does or I'm not gay so why should I care that everyone has the same rights as everyone else.

Day 19

It seems funny to be posting a winter picture. Its been raining overnight and it feels like early spring more than it feels like winter. 45 degrees yesterday. That is amazing for the middle of January.

I have an early clinic appointment this morning before work. The usual followup. I should get with NW Pulmonary and make the appointment with them today for sometime this week or next.

The appointment went well, at least I am heading in the right direction. My blood count on my last visit was 1.3 and today it was 1.4. Next visit is next Monday afternoon.

I made the appointment with the lung doctor, but, not for this or next week. Not till February 16th.

Met Michael and his friend Tim for lunch at Maxwell House. I had the salad bar. We watched Faux news on the bar tv and commented on the current status of Haiti.

I'm so buried with work. Piles of it. Maureen came in to visit. She seems to be doing really great recovering from her surgery. She will be back for part time real light duty next week.

Day 18 MLK Day

The dream continues today for equality for all.It takes special and brave people to bring about change. I feel the politicians we have now are more interested in their own ambitions to want to make a difference. Just look at this wimpy and sad health care reform bill. We gave them in the last election a democratic president and a majority in the congress and senate to really get something historically done. But it seems we are faced with the same old problems of partisan politics and indecision. There has been some small leaps forward in some states where gay rights have made headway. But CA and Proposition 8 have me stumped. I cannot even see why this is in question. As Dr King did in those years past we must stay vigilant that all people must have equal rights.

Day 17

The title to this portrait is Vampyria by Gothdream. She is a vampire but not sure why she is wearing the mask.I like the baby ermine she is holding.

Michael worked on the upstairs bedroom off an on all day yesterday. He put together the electric fireplace. It is so beautiful making the room so warm and cozy. I'm glad we spent the money. I did not do much yesterday. I wasn't feeling to strong and that hacky cough was back.

We watched the rest of Part 1 of Liberty, the American Revolution. I find myself so drawn to that period of history. It still amazes me how we became a country. We also watched the movie The Other Man with Liam Neeson and Antonio Banderos. Not a blockbuster but an interesting tale questioning what a man did not know about his wife's secret life before she died.

I watched alot of tv yesterday. My guilty pleasure, The newest Ugly Betty that I recorded. Then some new shows on Animal Planet channel like Pit Boss and Underdog to Wonderdog. And then another show I had recorded Dogtown.